Prayer and Promises

The Promise 

Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.

— Ephesians 6:18, NLT 

The Testimony 

Those whose hearts are open to receive the support and blessing of God, will walk in a holier atmosphere than that of earth, and will have constant communion with God. But those who reserve their thoughts of God, their earnest soul longings for purity and grace, for certain times, and places, and occasions, will be overcome by temptation... The injunction of the Saviour is, “Pray without ceasing.” The heart is to be continually going out in desire for the presence and grace of Jesus, that the soul may have divine enlightenment and heavenly wisdom. 

The beauty of holiness is to fill the hearts of God’s people, and that this may be accomplished, we should seek for divine disclosures of heavenly things... let the soul be drawn out and upward, that God may grant us a breath of his heavenly atmosphere. Let the spirit groan after God, and mingle faith with fervent desire. We should encourage gratitude and praise... Thus we may educate the soul to press its way out of the corrupted moral atmosphere of the world, of sin and selfishness, into the atmosphere that is divine and health-giving. 

We are to pray in the Spirit, with the understanding also, and God will prompt the longings of the soul, and satisfy the desires of the heart. We must become intelligent as to the conditions upon which God will hear and answer prayer. There are many useless, meaningless words employed in prayer, but these heartless petitions are not acceptable, and cannot prevail with God. 

We may send up a petition to God, and plead for divine guidance... We should have the door of the heart open continually, and our invitation going up that Jesus may come and abide as a heavenly guest in our souls. 

Says the prophet Isaiah: “For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy: I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.” 

— Signs of the Times, December 16, 1889  

The Response 

Pray in the Spirit and with the understanding also, become intelligent to the conditions in which God hears and answers prayer. 

Let your spirit groan after God. Mingle faith with fervent desire that your soul may be drawn out and upward for a breath of His heavenly atmosphere.

With gratitude and praise educate your soul to press its way into the atmosphere that is divine and health-giving. 

Plead for divine guidance. Continually open the door of your heart with the invitation that Jesus may come and abide as a heavenly guest in your soul.